Outcome of pregnancy in chromosomally normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency in the first trimester

Objectives To study the outcome of chromosomally normal pregnancies with increased nuchal translucency at the 10–14‐week scan. Design Retrospective study of 1320 chromosomally normal singleton pregnancies with nuchal translucency of ≥ 3.5 mm. In addition to fetal karyotyping these patients were mana...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology 2001-07, Vol.18 (1), p.9-17
Main Authors: Souka, A. P., Krampl, E., Bakalis, S., Heath, V., Nicolaides, K. H.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
10–14‐week scan
Biological and medical sciences
Cardiac defects
Female
Fetal abnormalities
Fetal Diseases - diagnostic imaging
First trimester
Genetic syndromes
Genetics, Medical
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Humans
Karyotyping
Management. Prenatal diagnosis
Medical sciences
Neck - diagnostic imaging
Neck - embryology
Nuchal translucency
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Pregnancy Trimester, First
Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta
Retrospective Studies
Ultrasonography, Prenatal
Citations: Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Objectives To study the outcome of chromosomally normal pregnancies with increased nuchal translucency at the 10–14‐week scan. Design Retrospective study of 1320 chromosomally normal singleton pregnancies with nuchal translucency of ≥ 3.5 mm. In addition to fetal karyotyping these patients were managed with follow‐up scans at 14–16 and 20–22 weeks, specialist fetal echocardiography and in selected cases by infection screening and further genetic testing. Results In the 1320 pregnancies there were 68 (5.15%) spontaneous abortions or intrauterine deaths, 18 (1.36%) neonatal and infant deaths and 154 (11.67%) terminations of pregnancy. In the 1080 (81.82%) survivors, 60 (5.56%) had abnormalities requiring medical or surgical treatment or leading to mental handicap. The chance of a livebirth with no defects in the group with nuchal translucency of 3.5–4.4 mm was 86%, for those with translucency of 4.5–5.4 mm it was 77%, for those with translucency of 5.5–6.4 mm it was 67%, and for those with translucency of ≥ 6.5 mm it was 31%. Conclusions Increased fetal nuchal translucency is associated with chromosomal abnormalities, many fetal defects and genetic syndromes. In the majority of cases a series of antenatal investigations, including fetal karyotyping, detailed scans, fetal echocardiography, as well as genetic testing and infection screening, that can be completed by 20 weeks of gestation would distinguish between the pregnancies destined to result in adverse outcome and those leading to the delivery of infants without major defects. Copyright © 2001 International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology
ISSN:0960-7692
1469-0705
DOI:10.1046/j.1469-0705.2001.00454.x